Bruce returns from bereavement list

MIAMI -- The Reds activated right fielder Jay Bruce from the bereavement list on Friday and optioned reliever Curtis Partch to Triple-A Louisville. Bruce missed the last three games to return to Texas after his grandfather, World War II veteran Carter Stanford, passed away at the age of 94.

"My mom told me Monday morning it happened. You didn't know it was coming, but it wasn't like, 'Oh my gosh, I can't believed it happened,'" Bruce said. "I felt it was important to be there for my family, and for my mom, and pay my final respects."

Bruce attended the burial on Wednesday, but had to wait to return to the team because being on the bereavement list requires missing a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven.

"I hated to miss three games," Bruce said. "It was tough, but it was family. I'm really, really glad to be back. They were 2-1 when I was out; they did well. I was the biggest fan while I was gone."

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.